9 February 2005 Edition
Building on success - Six-County Cúige AGM
Comradeship and unity are what distinguishes our struggle, Six-County Chairperson Declan Kearney told a packed Six-County Cúige AGM last weekend. In his report to the meeting, which took place in County Derry, Kearney outlined the achievements of Cúige na Sé Chondae last year.
"One of our key political objectives in 2004 was to elect Bairbre de Brún as an MEP in the Six Counties. Enormous credit is owed to the Cúige structures for delivering this result against the background of Assembly elections six months previously and the diminishing electoral register. Combined with the elections of Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin and massive local government gains across the 26 Counties, our party rocked the political establishment throughout this island," said Kearney.
"This year, we intend to stand even more Sinn Féin candidates than ever before in the local government elections. The Cúige Director of Elections has installed a highly professional and strategically motivated directorate, which has resolved to provide nationalist communities throughout the North with the opportunity to vote for and elect Sinn Féin candidates.
"Candidates will stand the length and breath of the Six Counties, from the coast at Carrickfergus right down to Aughnacloy on the Blackwater. One of our objectives by the end of this campaign will be to have transformed the geographical profile of Sinn Féin council representation throughout local government in the North," said Kearney.
"This goal, linked to the intensive planning and work invested to retain our existing Westminster seats and to secure gains in other priority constituencies, represents a strategic project in asserting the integrity and inviolable nature of Sinn Fein's mandate as the voice of northern nationalism and the third largest party in Ireland."
After reporting on other areas of growth, including the building of "a collective leadership team" within the Six Counties, developing the party and increasing new membership, Kearney placed on record his "appreciation for the very high levels of comradeship and the standard of positive working relationships within the Cúige.
"I consider myself lucky and I thank you all for your support and counsel. Comradeship and unity are what distinguishes our struggle from the anodyne politics which gel our opponents and makes Irish republicanism historically invincible. With comradeship and unity as our bedrock and equipped with coherent strategies, we can accomplish anything," said Kearney.
The AGM returned Kearney as chairperson while Pod Deveney was returned as vice chair and Brian Tumilty was returned as secretary. Newly elected were Seán Lynch as treasurer, Jennifer McCann as women's officer, Declan Murphy as PRO and Seamus Finucane as education officer. Three delegates were also elected to the Ard Chomlaire: Cliona O'Kane from East Derry, Bronwyn McGahon from South Tyrone and Jacqui Currie from Lagan Valley.